Hello all.
I recieved a Powerbook 540C yesterday and it was working fine. It was able to boot up and load perfectly. However, after the third time I Booted it up, I left the room to get something and when I came back I got this error:
Sorry a system error has occurred.
bus error.
To temporarily turn off extensions, restart and
hold down the shift key.
I tried to restart it again, and the same thing happenned. I then tried many times restarting while holding down shift, the boot screen told me that I had turned off the extensions, but I still got the same problem, over and over again.
I thought that a simple re-install of the OS would clear the problem up, but It doesn't seem to be as simple as that. I would insert the Installation Disk 1, and boot up my 540C, there would then be the whiring of the floppy disk, and I would get this error instead.
[QUOTE]
This startup disk will not work on this Macintosh
model. Use the latest installer to update this disk
for this model. {System 7.0 does not work on
this model; you need a newer version that does.}
[QUOTE]
Now, I am completely stuck. I know that the computer has System 7 installed, but I think it has a major update installed aswell, meaning that I would need an updated version of my install disk to use it. However, I cannot boot up without getting that Bus Error, so I cannot update my startup disk.
I do not care about the data that is on the hard drive, so is there any way that I can wipe my hard drive so I can install System 7 onto it? Will this get rid of the nasty Bus Error? Is there anything that I can do to bypass the Bus Error so I can get into System 7 at least.
Thanks in advance for your help on this matter.
Regards,
Joe Thompson.
Hey,
That blackbird needs at least 7.1 to start. It'll go -- if you have the RAM -- as far as 8.1. You can't install 7.0 on it. So you'll need a later system. Check Gamba's site or the Apple site for 7.5.x (do not use 7.5.2) since 7.1 may not be available. Also, 7.1 requires enablers for some macs and that can be a total pain as far as booting and installing goes.
That may or may not solve the system error problem.
So, there is no way I can install 7.0 into my system then?
If I have to install 7.1 or later, I cannot copy the disks on a mac, I only have a PC with a floppy drive, will that work? And is there any way I can update my System 7 disks to a later system that will work?
Thanks,
Joe.
Joe,
No, system 7.0 isn't going on a 540c.
As for the PC to Mac transfer, I've never had a PC so I have no direct or personal knowledge of how to do it. You might want to check this link to see if this works for you:
http://home.earthlink.net/~gamba2/pc2mac.html
Well it's a bit late right now for Joe, but this illustrates how critical it is to have a working extra bootable boot disk for any computer. It's alot easier to create that bootable disk while the thing is working correctly than . . . well, when it's not.
The bus error thing could be something other than (the primary suspect) a corrupt System file. Just for giggles and sh*ts you might want to try clearing the PRAM - hold P-R-option-command(Apple key) immediately after you hear the startup chime. Also, make sure there is no stray floppy in the floppy drive, bad floppy disk can cause errors. Also, if you can get to the mounted HD, you can try discarding the Preferences Folder. Corrupted System prefs can cause all sorts of havoc.
dan k
Thanks for the link Williama.
Dan, I would have had a boot disk ready, but I had only recieved the computer yesterday, and I didnt know if I could write one from my PC to work with a Mac.
Thanks,
Joe.